Exactly what I was thinking.


Apparently he has no idea what has happened to Pontiac in the news lately...

I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he means Terrain.

 

Trucks just aren't what they used to be.

 

Camaro is too un-PC for the majority of journalists to be seen as supporting. I seriously doubt it makes the final cut.

I'll go with the majority here and say winners will be Fusion / Equinox.

 

I dunno. Of course there are some automotive journalists who are the "greenie weenie" types, but I think the majority of auto journalists are auto enthusiasts as well.

Whether or not Camaro is a finalist, we definitely agree it probably won't win.

 

Why is the Mustang on the list? It received a facelift, but the powertrain is the same

 

Fusion (but the new E-Class is very close)

and the Equinox.

I'm still on the fence though about the E-Class. That car is damn impressive.

 

Facelift and new interior. I would agree that the 2010 Mustang is a bit of a stretch of the rule "all-new or substantially changed" - the word "substantially" is certainly open to interpretation.

 

The ones that work for dedicated auto mags are no doubt enthusiasts for the most part. But the majority of auto journalists work for newspapers and/or are freelancers, and probably face some editorial pressure (maybe not outright, but implied) to get behind something more 'populist'.

 

Being a realist, I still would say the Camaro has a good shot at winning if the Ford Fusion doesn't.

The Fusion Hybrid covers all bases. Distinctive looks, top drawer interior and materials, and 41 mpg. All in an American car. IMO, it's all but a slam dunk for the Fusion Hybrid.

If traffic stopping, innovative styling, price, and what you get for the money counts heavily, Camaro has a very good chance of taking it.

But...I agree with 97QuasarBlue3.8 in that the Camaro's interior will cost it points. The interior materials is still old, old GM, and in my opinion the thing that would sink it for Camaro far more than it being a "muscle car".

 

It sure would make great press for the brand if Camaro won.

 

Ford oughta get both wins with the Fusion Hybrid and the Transit Connect. The Ford Transits are going to rewrite how utility trucks in the US are percieved.

When companies start using connects versus old fullsize vans, theyre going to get an extra 20mpg and all the same room plus more utility, this has no competition in the TOTY segment

 

Can you elaborate on the Ford Transit Connect? I thought it was just a MPV, kindda like a Scion Xb or a Kia Soul.

 

I agree that it will be great for businesses, but I don't think it will win. What it does, it does well. But it is ugly and designed for a niche market. It has no competition in its segment, but I think that the Equinox and SRX have a much better chance than the Transit Connect.

 

I can't see the Transit being much more than a niche vehicle in North America. With only a 4-cyl and FWD, it's not going to be able to haul as much equipment as contractors are used to with full-size vans. It would most likely occupy the commercial part of the market vacated by the Astro/Safari.

 

Isn't the Transit Connect just another entry in the segment currently occupied by the Dodge Sprinter?